South Indians primarily speak Dravidian languages, although some communities such as the Konkani retain distinct identities. During its history, a number of dynasties including the Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara ruled over different parts of South India prior to the British occupation of India. South Indian dynasties conquered Sri Lanka and Srivijaya and had great cultural influences which can still be seen today.

Agriculture is the single largest contributor to the regional net domestic product. Information technology (IT) is a rapidly growing industry in South India, whose main cities constitute some of India’s major IT hubs. South India has higher literacy and per-capita income than the rest of India. South India has a unique and diverse culture and traditions that are distinct from that of rest of India. Literary and architectural styles evolved over two thousand years are unique to this region. Politics in South India is dominated by smaller regional political parties rather than by India's national political parties.

Apart from the English language terms South India and Peninsular India, South India has been known by several other historic names. The region has been referred to as the Deccan (from the Sanskrit word Dakshina meaning south). This term currently refers only to the area covered by the Deccan Plateau, a major geographic feature of the region. The Carnatic is an English term derived from "Karnad" or "Karunad", meaning black country. The terms Karnad and Carnatic have long overgrown particular association with the plateau and refer to all of South India, including the coasts, the eastern of which is named the Carnatic coast. The name Karnataka is derived from the same root. Dravida Nadu (from Dravida and Nadu; meaning land of the Dravidian people) is another name for the region; often shortened to Dravida, a term later added in the Indian national anthem. During the British rule, much of South India was organised into the Madras Presidency. Mostly, these states are referred to by their individual names and/or by the languages. ex: People from Kerala speak Malayalam and are referred to as Malayalees.